Connector device



Oct. 11, 1966 J. w. TURNER, sR 2 9 CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed Aug. '7, 1964INVENTOR HQSEPH W. Tummfim, 5%-

3,278,217 CUNNECTOR DEVICE Joseph W. Turner, Sn, Rte. 1, Box 53, Bandon,Oreg. Filed Aug. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 388,234 Claims. (Cl. 29478) Theinstant invention pertains to connector devices and, more specifically,connector devices that are adapted for connection with the cables ofderricks, hoists, and other similar lifting mechanisms.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide animprovement in connecting devices which particularly lend themselves tothe hoisting of timber, lumber, steel beams, and other objects whichmust necessarily be elevated from one given position and lowered to adesired site.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connector device whichreadily adapts itself to connection to one or more objects around whichhas been passed a connector chain, the connector device being readilyadaptable for connection with the chain and connected with a hoistingdevice whereby the object to be moved may be readily transported to thedesired site.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a connector deviceof the type generally described above, the device being formed in twoparts and including positive locking means for insuring againstaccidental or inadvertent separation of the parts as the liftingoperation is being carried out.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a connector deviceof the type generally referred to supra, wherein the separable parts ofthe lifting device may be quickly and easily assembled in their lockingcondition and wherein the same may, with the same facility, bedisassembled after the work has been transported to the desired site.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, theprovision of a connector device of the type generally described above,wherein .the device is non-complex in construction and assembly,inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention willbecome more manifest from a consideration of the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the two halves of a connectordevice constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the two halves of the connector deviceshown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the two halves of the connectorunit in their respective interlocking, but non-operative positions;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the two halves of the connectordevice in their respective operative positions and illustrating the samesupporting a load;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail, crosss-sectional view, FIGURE 5 beingtaken substantiallly on the vertical plane of line 55 of FIGURE 3,looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail, cross-sectional view, FIGURE 6 beingtaken substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 4, looking in the directionof the arrows.

Reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a connector deviceconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. Theconnector device 10 is seen to comprise a pair of complementing male andfemale connector elements 12, 14, respectively (see FIGURES 1 and 2),which are essentially arcuately-shaped in side elevation and each of theconnector elements 12, 14 is provided with one arm 16, 18, respectively,which is somewhat longer than United States Patent 0 the opposing arms20, 22 of the connector elements 12, 14, respectively. The outer ends ofthe arms 16, 18 are provided with transversely-extending openings 24,26, respectively, to serve a function to be described.

The arcuate male connector element 12 is seen to include a substantiallyplanar inner surface 28 and rising therefrom in inwardly-spaced relationrelative to the bight portion 30 is an arcuate flange 32. The flange 32,adjacent the central portion thereof, is integral with a modifieddovetailed key 34 (see FIGURES 5 and 6) which extend-s therefrom and hasan angularly-inclined undercut outer side 36.

The female connector element 14 is also provided with a substantiallyplanar inner surface 38 which is formed with an inwardly-extendingsubstantially arcuate groove 40 that gives rise to an arcuate shoulder42 adjacent the bight portion 44 thereof. Formation of the groove 40inherently forms an outer peripheral arcuate shoulder 46 disposed inlaterally-spaced and substantially concentric relation with respect tothe shoulder 42. The shoulder 46 is formed with a centrally-disposedoffset arcuate recessed segment 48 having a curvilinear surfacecorresponding to the curvilinear surface of the dovetaailed key 34, andthe shoulder 46 at each terminal end of the recessed segment 48continues into an undercut 50 formed in the shoulder 46.

It should be here noted that one end 32 of the flange 32 is coplanarwith the inner side of the arm 16 and its other terminal end 32" iscoplanar with the outer end 20 of the arm 16. In a similar manner, oneend of the groove 40 opens into the inner side of the arm 18, while itsother end opens in the terminal end of the arm 22.

To assemble the connector elements 12, 14, the planar surfaces of themale and female connector elements 12, 14 are brought into face-to-facecontact in such a manner as to cause the key 34 to enter the recessedsegment 48 and with the flange 32 engaging within the groove 40. It willnow be recognized that a slight turn of one or the other of theconnector elements 12, 14 in such direction as to turn the arms 16, 18toward one another (see FIGURES 3 and 4) will cause the key 34 to lockin the groove 40 to prevent separation of the male and female connectorelements 12, 14, respectively, as is shown clearly in FIGURE 6 of thedrawing.

In FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, the male and female connectors 12, 14 areshown as having the terminal ends of a flexible cable 42 threadedthrough the openings 24, 26. The threaded ends are reverted and splicedback, or otherwise secured to the cable 42, as at 44. In use, it isdesirable that the bight portion 46 of the cable 42 be carefully locatedintermediate the ends of the cable 42 in order to receive a hook 48 of ahoisting device (not shown) therethrough.

FIGURE 3 shows the connector device 10 with the male and femaleconnector elements 12, 14 in their respective open positions and withthe cable 42 in its slackoff condition. In the open positions shown inFIGURE 3, the key 34 rides, of course, within the undercut 50 tosecurely hold the male and female connectors 12, 14 in lockingengagement, one with the other. A hook 52 may now be engaged over thebights 30, 44, after which the hoisting device is operated to remove theslack from cable 42 which, of course, causes the arms 16, 18 to movetoward each other and to assume their locked position, as shown inFIGURE 4. As .the cable 42 continues to be placed under tension andrises, the hook 52 will move therewith and will lift any load (notshown) which may be connected with the hook 50.

It will be readily appreciated that, in place of the book 52, a closedloop (not shown) may surround to load to be moved, and in this case, andassuming there is a certain amount of slack in the loop, the male andfemale elements 12, 14 could be separated and passed under the loop inopposite directions after which the male and female elements 12, 14could be rejoined in the manner described above.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention indetail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way ofexample, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector device comprising arcuately-shaped male and femaleconnector elements each having planar surfaces adapted forsurface-to-surface contact, said male element having a dovetailed flangeprojecting laterally therefrom, said female element having an undercutslot extending inwardly from said surface, and said groove including anoffset recess to initially receive said dovetailed flange therein, saidflange and groove being interlocked by turning one of said elementsrelative to the other.

2. A connector device comprising an arcuately-shaped pair of male andfemale connector elements, respectively, each of said connectors havingone arm thereof longer than its opposed arm, means on each of saidlonger arms for connection with a hoisting cable, each of said connectorelements having planar surfaces adapted for surface-to-surface cont-act,said male connector element having a substantially arcuately-shapedflange projecting laterally from said planar surface, said flange havinga centrally-located dovetailed key projecting laterally from the bightportion thereof, said female connector element having a groove formedtherein adapted to receive said flange, said groove having acentrally-located recess offset therefrom to receive said dovetailedkey, said male and female connector elements mating when brought intosurface-to-surface contact and interlocking with one another on relativemovement of one of said elements relative to the other one thereof.

3. A connector device as defined in claim 2, wherein said groove formedin said female connector element is provided with an undercut at eachside of said recess to receive said dovetailed key therein.

4. A connector device as defined in claim 3, wherein said flange on saidmale connector element .is arcuate in configuration and terminates insaid one arm of said male connector element and at the outer terminalend of said male connector element, and wherein said groove formed insaid female connector element opens into said one arm thereof and intothe terminal end at its other respective end.

5. A connector device as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said maleand female connector elements is provided with bight portions adapted toreceive and sustain a load thereover.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 270,069 1/1883Hudson 29478 X 1,381,616 6/1921 Clausen et al 29478 X 2,236,022 3/1941Trevor 29478 X 2,384,497 9/1945 silcr 29478 X HUGO O. SCHULZ, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A CONNECTOR DEVICE COMPRISING ARCUATELY-SHAPED MALE AND FEMALECONNECTOR ELEMENTS EACH HAVING PLANAR SURFACES ADAPTED FORSURFACE-TO-SURFACE CONTACT, SAID MALE ELEMENT HAVING A DOVETAILED FLANGEPROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM, SAID FEMALE ELEMENT HAVING AN UNDERCUTSLOT EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAID SURFACE, AND SAID GROOVE INCLUDING ANOFFSET RECESS TO INITIALLY RECEIVE SAID DOVETIALED FLANGE THEREIN, SAIDFLANGE AND GROOVE BEING INTERLOCKED BY TURNING ONE OF SAID ELEMENTSRELATIVE TO THE OTHER.